Vanity Fair - Page 196/573

When George and Dobbin were alone in the latter's room, to which George

had followed him, Dobbin took from his desk the letter which he had

been charged by Mr. Osborne to deliver to his son. "It's not in my

father's handwriting," said George, looking rather alarmed; nor was it:

the letter was from Mr. Osborne's lawyer, and to the following effect: "Bedford Row, May 7, 1815.

"SIR, "I am commissioned by Mr. Osborne to inform you, that he abides by the

determination which he before expressed to you, and that in consequence

of the marriage which you have been pleased to contract, he ceases to

consider you henceforth as a member of his family. This determination

is final and irrevocable.

"Although the monies expended upon you in your minority, and the bills

which you have drawn upon him so unsparingly of late years, far exceed

in amount the sum to which you are entitled in your own right (being

the third part of the fortune of your mother, the late Mrs. Osborne and

which reverted to you at her decease, and to Miss Jane Osborne and Miss

Maria Frances Osborne); yet I am instructed by Mr. Osborne to say, that

he waives all claim upon your estate, and that the sum of 2,000 pounds,

4 per cent. annuities, at the value of the day (being your one-third

share of the sum of 6,000 pounds), shall be paid over to yourself or

your agents upon your receipt for the same, by "Your obedient Servt.,

"S. HIGGS.

"P.S.--Mr. Osborne desires me to say, once for all, that he declines to

receive any messages, letters, or communications from you on this or

any other subject.

"A pretty way you have managed the affair," said George, looking

savagely at William Dobbin. "Look there, Dobbin," and he flung over to

the latter his parent's letter. "A beggar, by Jove, and all in

consequence of my d--d sentimentality. Why couldn't we have waited? A

ball might have done for me in the course of the war, and may still,

and how will Emmy be bettered by being left a beggar's widow? It was

all your doing. You were never easy until you had got me married and

ruined. What the deuce am I to do with two thousand pounds? Such a

sum won't last two years. I've lost a hundred and forty to Crawley at

cards and billiards since I've been down here. A pretty manager of a

man's matters YOU are, forsooth."

"There's no denying that the position is a hard one," Dobbin replied,

after reading over the letter with a blank countenance; "and as you

say, it is partly of my making. There are some men who wouldn't mind

changing with you," he added, with a bitter smile. "How many captains

in the regiment have two thousand pounds to the fore, think you? You

must live on your pay till your father relents, and if you die, you

leave your wife a hundred a year."